itsbeautifuloutside

13th June - (Saint-Denis) 5pm

Republic of Ireland 1

• Hoolahan, 48'

Sweden 1

• Clark (71' minutes og)

Referee : Milorad Mazic

Attendance : 73,419

Match Report

IBO Reporter : channonite

Oh dear, oh dear. Almost, but not quite.

Cairn Clark managed to score a spectacular headed own-goal which cancelled out Wes Hoolahan’s smartly struck half volley right at the start of the second half and the Republic of Ireland had to settle for a draw.

One encouraging thing I noticed, was that there was little in the way of segregation between the predominately green Irish fans and the largely yellow Swedish fans. It all seemed very good natured, with no signs of the violence that marred the Russia v England game in Marseille.

The first half, although scoreless, was really all about the Irish, in a stadium that was a cauldron of noise. They looked busy and workmanlike, as against the Swedes, who were giving a good impression of a collection of root vegetables.

The Swedish goal was often threatened by the Irish and one shot even hit the cross bar. In fact it was no real surprise when, right at the start of the second half, Coleman sent a superb cross to Hooligan, who comfortably beat Isaksson in the Swedish goal.

That seemed to wake the slumbering Swedes and the Irish spent the rest of the half defending under increasing pressure. Ibrahimovic had hardly had any influence on the game at all, but he at last had a hand in the unfortunate equaliser. It was his low and fiercely struck cross that Clark inadvertently managed to head into his own net in the 71st minute.

The rest of the match was all about defending, but neither side could land a killer blow. A draw was not the end of the world, but didn’t really suit either side. They are, after all, in the same group as Italy and Belgium. With one team of the four going home at the end of the group stage, then one of these two must be the most likely.

It was difficult to watch Saints own Shane Long, as he rushed about, like he does at club level, but without any end product. In fact with the exception of Wes Hoolihan, that was something that you could say about the whole Republic of Ireland side. The Swedish side were very little different. I would be surprised if either side make it past the Last 16.

13th June - (Lyon) 8pm

Belgium 0

Italy 2

• Giaccherini, 32'
• Graziano Pellè, 90'+2

Referee : Mark Clattenburg

Attendance : 55,408

Match Report

IBO Reporter : ormerdog

You can't help but feel that this is a big tournament for Belgium. The term "Golden Generation" is generally attached to their name by journalists and other people who talk loudly in pubs, but they are probably another tournament failure away from "perennial underachievers" replacing it. Their manager Marc Wilmots has somehow remained in the job, despite seemingly failing to get the best out of this talented bunch. Is this because he's a crap manager? I think it's likely that Belgian's galacticos find it hard to respect a tubby man who insists on wearing his old school uniform to work (minus the tie). Antonio Conte on the other hand dresses like a badass and generally the Italians are pretty good at this tournament football malarkey. No-one seems to have given them much chance this year but as with the Germans "you can never write them off".

The first ten minutes passed without much incident and the first sniff of any goalmouth action came on 10 minutes when Naingollan, who incidentally looks like he should be fronting a rap metal band from 2001, spanked one in from the edge of the box after some nice head tennis by Lukaku and Fellaini which was well turned away by Buffon, the only "superstar" in the Italian team according to Martin Keown. The cheek.

Our very own superstar was starting to come into the game as Italy grew into it. Graziano was linking play well and after 28 minutes, big sexy, as he's known exclusively by about 3 people on this forum, tried to curl one round Courtois from the edge of the box but it fizzed wide. The game had threatened to come to life and finally did just after the half hour mark. Bonucci was given loads of space on the halfway line to float a lovely ball over Alderweirelds head to Giacherinni who controlled beautifully and curled past Courtois. Italy were on top and created another good chance five minutes later. Belgium failed to clear a corner, Eder nodded it towards Graziano but he headed wide with the goal gaping. Sad face.

Belgium offered very little in the way of creativity until 5 minutes before half time when a slick passing move found De Bruyne bearing down on goal but a great block from Giacherinni foiled the ruddy one.

Italy went in deserving leaders. They look very well drilled, slick in possession and slightly more adventurous than your typical azzuri team. The second half started in old fashioned end to end style with both sides pouring forward. Belgium had a glorious chance on 52 minutes when lovely play on the counter from Hazard and then a first time pass from De Bruyne put Lukaku clean through but the Everton striker seemed perturbed by the hirsute presence of Buffon and floated a left footed effort high and wide as the aging keeper advanced. Italy then carved out a great opportunity. Candreva's cross landed right on Graziano's head but his header was well saved by Courtois. All this goalmouth action seemed to shake Italy up and what followed was the kind of performance more closely associated with them. I wouldn't call it full blown cattenaccio but the previously marauding Candreva and Darmian seemed to rein it in a bit. They were happy to cede possession with Belgium restricted to crossing or shooting from deep. Eden Hazard, perhaps the least inspiring captain of all time, was conspicuous by his absence and De Bruyne couldn't get into the game. Lukaku was just gash. Belgium were going nowhere.

Origi eventually came on for Lukaku and his direct running along with fellow sub Carrasco at least made Italy a bit twitchier. Italys repsonse was fairly rudimentary. Foul 'em. "Italy are losing their discipline", said Martin Keown, a man who once double forearm smashed Ruud Van Nistlerooy for missing a penalty against his own team. Whilst it may have appeared that way, the fouling was cleverly shared and in areas that would only attract bookings at worst from the delightful Clattenburg who so far had somehow managed to avoid making any major errors.

Belgium were all huff and puff but again lacked the spark to get behind Italy. They did have a great chance on 82 minutes though, De Bruyne floated in a ball to the near post but Origi got too much on the header from 6 yards and over it went. Italy hit back on the counter, the annoyingly mobile Immobile, on for the hard working Eder, rampaged through the sparsely populated Belgian midfield and walloped one at Courtois but the low hairlined one beat it away. Belgium went back up the other end but again it was all a bit desperate. This time Fellaini, who's new blond mop made him resemble Rod Hull from a distance, couldn't connect from a few yards out with the ball pinging around.

Then came the moment the world had waited for. Italy broke quickly and Immobile found the excellent Candreva in acres on the right of the box, he dinked one to the far post and BOOOM, the right footed volley of everyone's favourite sex bomb, 68 inch thighs glistening in the French night, propelled the ball into the back of the net in the most beautiful combination of technique, sex and raw power ever seen. 2-0 Italy. Game over. Graziano had sealed an excellent individual performance with a fine goal and we all went to bed with a nice fuzzy feeling a box of tissues by our side.

17th June - (Toulouse) 2pm

Italy 1

• Éder, 88'

Sweden 0

Referee : Viktor Kassai

Attendance : 29,600

Match Report

IBO Reporter : Spot51

We had a downpour in Ryde an hour before kick-off. I grabbed a hat while helping Drew out of the car. It was my Capri hat – with the arms of Italy supported by ostentatious gold wings. So I kept it on during the match and don’t doubt this had a significant influence on the outcome.

The weather in Toulouse was much nicer than ours. There were blue skies overhead and huge banks of yellow-shirted Swedes in the stadium. Among the blue clad Italian fans I picked out various club shirts – Napoli, Roma, Fiorentina at al. Perhaps the Italians’ loyalty is, like ours, club before country.

My heart always sinks when the game is covered by ITV but at least today’s pundit was former Saint, Iain Dowie, who talks more sense than most of them.

Sweden enjoyed some early pressure but, when the ball was first delivered into the box, Chiellini won his duel with Ibrahimovic which seemed a good omen for the Azzurri. Sweden won the first free kick for handball on 5m but Kallstrom’s kick was cleared. Gradually Italy got their passing game going and through midfield the ball was moved swiftly and accurately. On 10m they got Florenzi into a shooting position but his effort was blocked and Isaksson collected.

On 17m Ibrahimovic found Kallstrom in space. His curled cross evaded the yellow shirts and Buffon gratefully grabbed it. Then Italy went forward. Eder’s shot broke to the right and Candreva drove the rebound hard and low but Isaksson fell on it.

Sweden won another corner on 22m but Pelle headed this away. On 27 Sweden won a free kick when De Rossi fouled Ibrahimovic. The big #10 got on the end of Kallstrom’s kick but was flagged offside. As 30m ticked by, neither side had created a decent chance. Both teams were guilty of over hitting the final pass and Pelle was one of the main culprits. It made for an easy afternoon for the goal-keepers.

Candreva was seeing plenty of the ball down Italy’s right wing. On 39m he trapped a long pass and drove in a testing cross but the Swedes dealt with it well. At the other end Sweden created a fair chance for Larsson but his shot went wide.

You can spot when the director thinks the football is getting boring – he instructs the cameras to seek out pretty girls in the crowd. In fact, as the half drew to a close, Sweden upped their game and kept Italy penned back. They didn’t achieve much beyond lifting their possession to 59%. HT = 0-0.

There were no changes at half time. On 49 Eder got down the right and pulled the ball back for Pelle. Our guy shot wide. Sweden then made a defensive cock-up that led to 3 consecutive corners for Italy. Isaksson caught the third to relieve the pressure.

Sweden has several big, strong lads who were happy to mix it with the Italians. There were times when they simply out-muscled their opponents but all this effort was unproductive. On 53m another opportunity was wasted as a cross flew harmlessly into the crowd.

On 55m a Beautiful Italian move saw Candreva, in space, fire a cross straight at Isaksson. A minute later he was in the same position – and did exactly the same thing. Then Italy withdrew Pelle – Boo!

Zaza came on and was immediately involved with Giaccherini and Parolo in a promising move that came to nothing. On 64m another slick move got Candreva down the right and, yes – you guessed, he hit his cross straight at Isaksson…

Then Lindelhof got down the wing and won a corner off Chiellini. Kallstrom’s wicked cross had Buffon flailing: but the ancient one just got finger-tips there to touch it away. Sweden continued to press forward with De Rossi booked for fouling Kallstrom. The free kick was headed on but Buffon claimed it. Then Ibrahimovic met a cross at the back post; his miss was irrelevant as the flag was up.

De Rossi was replaced by Motta on 74m. Sweden responded with a double substitution – Lewicki and Durmaz for Ekdal and Forsberg. Durmaz was soon in the thick of it, getting up but shooting wide.

On 82m Italy should have gone ahead. A beautiful cross by Giaccherini found Parolo with just the keeper to beat. He leathered it against the bar and over. Then Ibrahimovic won a corner but Sweden were penalised when one of their big lads fouled a defender.

On 85m both sides made their final changes: Sturaro replaced Florenzi and Berg came on for Guidetti. The director was getting frustrated again as we were shown more attractive young women. Then, Italy scored the winner.

Chiellini is a crafty old devil. He nicked the ball off a Swede near the halfway line to win a throw. He took it himself and hurled it down the wing. Zaza rose to meet it and directed a super header into the path of Eder. The forward brought the ball to the edge of the box before curling a lovely shot past the keeper's dive into the far corner. 1-0 Italy.

In the 90th minute, Italy might have got another but Candreva was greedy, shooting when team-mates were in better positions. He only got a corner. Italy won a string of corners during 3 added minutes. In the very last minute the ref bagged 2 more bookings – Buffon for time wasting (surely not!) and Olsson for a foul on Zaza. The ref was not conned by the Swedes elaborate diving either and he called time.

1-0 to Italy – giving them 6 points and a place in the last 16. They rarely do things this effectively. Sweden on the other hand completed a second match without a shot on target. They are not out of the competition just yet but are close to the precipice.

18th June - (Bordeaux) 2pm

Belgium 3

• R Lukaku, 48', 70'
• Witsel, 61'

Republic of Ireland 0

Referee : Cüneyt Çakir

Attendance : 39,493

Match Report

IBO Reporter : THE BEAST

Ireland thought they could at least Nick a point from this game, Belgium, the Spain of the tweenies, they had a point to prove.

Ireland defended well in the first half, they kept Belgium down to a few half chances, Belgium though had Lukaku, Hazard & De Bruyne all with a point to prove.

What's more, Belgium looked much better setup, they had a right back that looked good on the ball and solid in defence with Meunier and played Carrasco and Dembele, they looked far more threatening as well as more defensively solid.

Although, the defensively solid thing might just be my imagination because Ireland really did nothing, our own Shane Long look like a starving dog looking through the window of the butchers shop, he didn't even get scraps, honestly rest of the Irish team gave him nothing to work with at all.

Belgium's first goal Lukaku scored from a nice De bruyne pass that came as a result of what could easily have been given as a penalty to Ireland when Toby Alderweireld basically kicked Shane Long in the head in the box when defending one of Ireland's few opportunities to put the ball into the striker. Nevertheless, this is denigrating slightly the value and quality of the first goal which Belgium thoroughly deserved, made an scored by 2 of the most heavily criticised members of the team as well which was noteworthy.

After that Ireland had to come back at them, unfortunately they just weren't set up to do so. You know sometimes when teams are greater than the sum of their parts, well, certainly today, Ireland weren't. They were on the end of a 3-0 loss and honestly it could have been more.

Belgium's 2nd goal was a free header in the box for Axel Witsel from a lovely cross from Meunier, I felt the goalie could have stopped the header, saying that, it wastaken on the run and was a very sweet connection, so maybe not.

The 3rd goal was a really lovely breakaway move when Ireland were trying to chase the game a little, with Hazard breaking brilliantly, running outside the pitch and around the linesman before crossing for Lukaku, who finished with ease. It was no more than Belgium deserve to be honest.

Ireland fancied themselves before this game, perhaps thinking they could turn over Belgium like they turned over Germany, but they were set up only to defend and they just couldn't keep doing it in the face of Belgium team with something to prove.

If they can keep this up, Belgium will be a force to be reckoned with in these championships.

22nd June - (Nice) 8pm

Sweden 0

Belgium 1

• Nainggolan 84'

Referee : Dr. Felix Brych

Attendance : 34,011

Match Report

IBO Reporter : channonite

This is probably the shortest report I have done. Neither side covered themselves in glory. Belgium won, but they will have to play a whole heap better than this, if they are hoping to progress any further.

The match was decided by a fantastic 84th minute strike by Nainggolan, which put Belgium into the last 16 as runners-up and who now face Hungary in Toulouse on Tuesday. Sweden meanwhile go home, bringing down the curtain on the 116 game international career of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Sweden were less than impressive in this competition, gaining only a single point from their three games and Ibrahimovic failed to score a single goal.

Once again, Belgium looked like a collection of talented individuals, but not a team, just as they did in the World Cup two years ago.

In short, Sweden were disappointing and Belgium were frustrating. Not a good combination.

22nd June - (Lille) 8pm

Italy 0

Republic of Ireland 1

• Brady, 85'

Referee : Ovidiu Hategan

Attendance : 44,268

Match Report

IBO Reporter : channonite

Robbie Brady grabbed an important win for the Republic of Ireland, by scoring the only goal of the game in the 85th minute, when he headed in Wes Hoolahan's cross and this was enough to send them into the last 16.

The goal caused pandemonium amongst the thousands of supporters in green, who seemed to have taken over the stadium in Lille. The Italians were unmoved as they already knew that they were topping Group E and were already thinking ahead to their game against Spain on Monday.

The Republic go through as one of the best third place finishers to face France on Sunday. No pressure then.

In their first two group games O'Neill's side had only managed one shot on target, so he had to be more adventurous in this game. The only option in attack was to play Daryl Murphy, but he has not scored in 20 games for his country. Yet for all that they looked far more dangerous in the first half, with a header from Murphy tipped over and a decent shout for a penalty ignored when McClean was bundled over in the box.

It was a different game after half-time and Italy were in control, right up until the final few minutes. Although the second string Italian team (with no Graziano) showed little in attack they also didn't look in much danger of failing to keep their third clean sheet in three games. Well, not until the last five minutes that i